Politics as usual

Friday, January 07, 2011
Time: 11:17 PM



Typical Boughton B.S...

Jan 5 2011:
Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton, a Republican who lost his bid for lieutenant governor in the November election, said he did not watch television coverage of [Dannel Malloy's] inauguration Wednesday because he was too busy with city business.

Today:
Timothy Stewart, the only Republican elected as mayor four consecutive times in this heavily Democratic city, wants to go to the state Senate.

Stewart announced Friday that he will run for the 6th Senate District in a Feb. 22 special election to add a conservative voice at the Capitol.

[...]

"We need his boldness, his thoughtfulness on how to run state government," said state Sen. Len Fasano, R-East Haven, who along with Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton traveled to New Britain for Stewart's announcement.

So, on one hand, Boughton was too busy "with city business, to watch Gov. Malloy's inauguration speech to the General Assembly YET he found time to travel IN A SNOW STORM from Danbury to New Britain for a partisan political presser.

Like I said, typical Boughton B.S.

Can't wait to hear the last honest man's tired ol' recycled refusal to participate in FREE and OPEN debates later this year...

TROY GRANT CASE: Bond raised, re-arrest issued


Time: 9:35 PM

This case has gone from bad to REAL bad.

Unfortunately, I couldn't make it to Danbury Superior Court, but according to the recent write-up on the case by the News-Times, I didn't miss that much since Grant failed to appear in court, which was a BIG mistake.
In a bit of irony, Troy Grant failed to appear Friday at a hearing on his defense attorney's motion to withdraw from the case in which the beleaguered former youth counselor faces multiple charges of sexual assault.

Grant, 41, had pleaded not guilty to the charges and was free on bail, but when he didn't show up to court on Friday the judge raised his bond to $750,000 from $300,000 and issued a rearrest order, according to Grant's lawyer, James Diamond.

"He (Grant) failed to appear in court. His bond was called and forfeited," Diamond said. "The motion would not be heard."

In the motion he filed at Danbury Superior Court, Diamond said his attorney-client relationship with Grant had "broken down irretrievably." He also claimed his client had "failed to honor the retainer agreement."

Grant not showing up in court today was idiotic to say the least. Now his bond is increased to a quarter million dollars and the judge issued his re-arrest. Given the time he faces if convicted, and the fact that his attorney wants nothing to do with him, lets just say that 2011 isn't going well for Grant.




RELATED POSTS:

02.05.10: VIDEO: Interview with Pathway Danbury Exe. Dir. Troy Grant

02.11.10: Court increase bond, places conditions to protect victims

02.18.10: Warrant paints a disturbing picture; Grant admits having sexual relations with victim

09.23.10: Grant rejects plea offers

12.09.10 Attorney wants off Grant case

In memory of William Ratchford


Time: 2:12 PM



With the passing of Congressman William Ratchford, I left it was important to do a television show in his memory...and last night we did just that.

On last night's edition of the Marty Heiser Show, I assisted in assembling a lineup of friends and colleagues of Danbury native who talked about Ratchford and his everlasting legacy.




I'd like to thank the following for sharing their memories of Bill.

Former Mayor Gene Eriquez
Deputy Speaker Bob Godfrey
Former Governor John Rowland
Attorney General George Jepsen
Former State Rep. Joe Walkovich
Ann Boynton
Hillel Goldman Esq.
Joe DaSilva Sr.

LOCAL ACCESS VIDEO: Progressive Soup 12.29.10 broadcast

Thursday, January 06, 2011
Time: 5:06 PM


BETHEL: Phase one of road repair plan revealed


Time: 10:20 AM

The Bethel Patch has the details:
At Tuesday's Board of Selectmen meeting, First Selectman Matthew Knickerbocker revealed the priority list of Phase I of the Road Renewal Plan for 2011. Roads were chose based on input from both town fire departments, the police department and the highway department.

[...]

Though the approved plan allocates bonding $2 million for 2011, the estimated cost to fix the roads listed would cost just more than $2.6 million. Knickerbocker said, "We may not get to all of them, but we'll do as much as we can until the money runs out."

Screen shot 2011-01-06 at 10.21.51 AM

GOV ACCESS VIDEO: Jan 2011 City Council meeting

Wednesday, January 05, 2011
Time: 8:08 PM


LOCAL ACCESS VIDEO: Community Forum 12.29.10 broadcast


Time: 11:53 AM


The lobby to protect municipal aid begins...and what this means for Danbury

Monday, January 03, 2011
Time: 3:50 PM

Christine Stuart over at CTNewsJunkie has a great write-up regarding the efforts being made at the Capitol to protect state's aid to municipalities.
The Connecticut Conference of Municipalities made clear Monday that cuts in municipal aid will simply shift the tax burden to local property taxpayers across the state. But with Malloy, a former president of the organization as governor, the group is optimistic that their message will resonate this year.

“We recognize it’s going to be a tough session,” Kevin Maloney, spokesman for CCM, said Monday. “Certainly municipal aid is such a big part of every budget that it’s going to be looked to, but we have a new governor,” whose budget director, Ben Barnes, used to work for the organization.

“We think this is the time where our message is going to resonate that any cuts to cities and towns only result in increases in property taxes and cuts in local services,” Maloney added.

When it comes Danbury's upcoming budget, preserving state aid to municipalities is going to be paramount as any decrease in aid will result in a burden being shifted from the state level to the local level, and the first area that will be probably hit if aid is decreased is education.
On the campaign trail Malloy promised make sure the state funded its share of the Education Cost Sharing grant. But it will be a daunting task as the state has projected a more than $3.67 billion budget deficit.

Last year the state covered about 42 percent of school funding while local districts paid more than 52 percent. The states ability to cover 42 percent of school costs was due in part to the approximately $270 million in federal stimulus funds that won’t be there in 2011.

Given that Gov-Elect Malloy plans to adhere to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) once sworn into office on Wednesday, which could result in the state deficit number increasing by 1 billion dollars, keeping state aid to municipalities will be a daunting task for the new gubernatorial administration...and any decrease in aid could have a detrimental impact of Danbury's upcoming budget.

Stay tuned...

RIP

Sunday, January 02, 2011
Time: 2:55 PM

Sad day.

For those new to the area, click here to read Congressman Ratchford's bio.

UPDATE: Attorney General-Elect George Jepsen released the following statement regarding the death of Congressman Ratchford
Bill Ratchford's passing this morning is sad for me personally and marks a loss for the people of Connecticut.

I got my start in politics working for Bill Ratchford. As a college student, I worked in his unsuccessful 1974 campaign for Congress, and managed his campaign in 1978 when he won the seat.

As House Speaker in the Connecticut General Assembly in the late 1960s, Bill Ratchford was an early advocate for high ethical standards and transparency in government. As a state legislator and congressman, he stood up to protect working families, the environment, and consumers. Finally, he was a kind, compassionate man, committed to his wife, Barbara, and to his family, who saw in public service the opportunity to help his community and enrich the lives of others. He will be missed.

Congressman Chris Murphy issued the following statement:
Bill Ratchford's advocacy for the elderly and his commitment to public service built a legacy that will live on in Danbury and communities across Connecticut. Shortly after I was sworn in to office, Bill came by to share some of his wisdom about the House of Representatives. More than twenty years had passed since he served in this seat, but his enthusiasm for policy and his passion for the people of Connecticut were just as strong as ever. He will be terribly missed, and my thoughts and prayers are with his wife Barbara and his family at this time.

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INDEPENDENT PARTY OF DANBNRY
DATABASE COMING SOON


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CITY OF DANBURY VIDEO ARCHIVE (Dec 2012-present)

The Mercurial (RIP)
Danbury News Times
Danbury Patch
Danbury Hamlet Hub
Danbury Daily Voice
Tribuna Newspaper
CT News Junkie
CT Capitol Report

10.03.18 (PDF):
"Approval of Danbury Prospect Charter School"

10.30.20 (HatCityBLOG VID): Charter School discussion during 2020 interview with Julie Kushner

2018 (RADIO): WLAD
"State Board of Ed signs off on Danbury charter school proposal"

08.20 (VID): CT-LEAD
"Stand up for Education Justice" Rally

08.20.20 (OP-ED): KUSHNER: "Charter schools are not ‘magic bullet’ to improving Danbury schools"

09.13.20 (OP-ED): CHAPMAN
Candidate for state Senate supports charter school for Danbury

01.15.21 (VID): CT-LEAD
Danbury Prospect Charter School press conference

03.19.21 (OP-ED): CT MIRROR
"Danbury leaders do not want a charter school"

04.01.21 (OP-ED): CT-LEAD:
"Why did Sen. Kushner vote against us?"

05.06.21 (VID): Danbury rally to fully fund public schools

10.07.21 (VID): Danbury City-Wide PTO "Meet the Candidates" education forum

10.07.21 NEWSTIMES
Danbury candidates quarrel over charter school, education funding

01.10.22 NEWSTIMES
"New operator named for Danbury charter school: ‘I’m a huge advocate for parent choice’"

01.10.22 NEWSTIMES
"Some Danbury Democrats ‘open minded’ about charter school after new, CT operator named"

01.21.22 (OP-ED): CT MIRROR
"Lessons from Danbury: Ending the dual process for charter school approval"

02.09.22 NEWSTIMES
"Proposed Danbury charter school won’t open in 2022, governor leaves funding out of budget"

02.18.22 NEWSTIMES:
Danbury residents plead for charter school funds in 9-hour state budget hearing: ‘Just exhausted’

03.05.22 (LTE):
Time has come for Danbury charter school

03.12.22 (OP-ED): TAYLOR
"Why I am excited about the Danbury Charter School"

03.16.22 (LTE):
"Why a Danbury Charter School?"

04.02.22 CT EXAMINER:
"Crowding and a Lack of Options for Danbury Students, But No Agreement on Solutions"

04.04.22 (OP-ED): DCS
"Danbury Charter School plans debut"

04.07.22 (PODCAST): (CEA)
"SENATOR KUSHNER DISCUSSES POINTS OF OPTIMISM FOR DANBURY PUBLIC SCHOOLS"

04.18.22 (VID): CT-LEAD
Protest press conference

04.25.22 (RADIO): WSHU
Latino group call on Connecticut lawmakers to open a Danbury charter school

06.03.22 (OP-ED): KUSHNER:
"Career Academy ‘a great deal for Danbury"

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On September 26, 2007, ten plaintiffs filed suit in response to an arrest of aday laborers at a public park in Danbury, Connecticut. Plaintiffs amended their complaint on November 26, 2007.

The amended complaint states that plaintiffs sought to remedy the continued discriminatory and unauthorized enforcement of federal immigration laws against the Latino residents of the City of Danbury by Danbury's mayor and its police department.

Plaintiffs allege that the arrests violated their Fourth Amendment rights and the Connecticut Constitution because defendants conducted the arrests without valid warrants, in the absence of exigent circumstances, and without probable cause to believe that plaintiffs were engaged in unlawful activity. In addition, plaintiffs allege that defendants improperly stopped, detained, investigated, searched and arrested plaintiffs. Plaintiffs also allege that defendants violated their Fourteenth Amendment rights when they intentionally targeted plaintiffs, and arrested and detained them on the basis of their race, ethnicity and perceived national origin. Plaintiffs raise First Amendment, Due Process and tort claims.

Plaintiffs request declaratory relief, damages and attorneys fees.

CLICK HERE TO READ/DOWNLOAD MAYOR BOUGHTON'S DEPOSITION

CLICK HERE TO READ/DOWNLOAD MIKE McLACHLAN (then MAYOR CHIEF OF STAFF) DEPOSITION

Danbury Area Coalition for the Rights of Immigrants v.
U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security
3:06-cv-01992-RNC ( D. Conn. )

(02.25.08) Court docket

(10.24.07) Memorandum in Opposition to Defendant's Emergency Motion for Protective Order

(09.26.07) Press Release

(12.14.06) Complaint


Barrera v. Boughton, No. 07-01436
(D. Conn. filed Sept. 26, 2007)

(02.25.08) Court Docket

Amended complaint

Defendants' Motion to Dismiss for Lack of Subject Matter Jurisdiction

Defendants' Motion to Dismiss State Law Claims

Plaintiffs' Opposition to Motion to Dismiss

Order on Motion to Dismiss

Defendants' Answer to Amended Complaint

NEW HAVEN REGISTER: Immigrant's 2006 arrest was flawed Danbury mayor testifies

(10.05.07 (VIDEO) Boughton mislead the public about Danbury's involvement in raid

(09.18.07) Yale Law Students expose Danbury involvement in raid

(12.14.06) VIDEO: Interview with Yale Law Students at FOI presser

(12.14.06) VIDEO: Danbury 11 FOI complaint media roundup

City Clerk Jean Natale standing next to skinhead sparks outrage

(10.03.06) VIDEO: Danbury 11 rally

(09.29.06) VIDEO: Danbury 11 case deepens

Word of raid spread across the country

(09/29/06) VIDEO: Danbury 11 protest news conference

(09/29/06) Immigrant newspaper "El Canillita" gives best account of ICE day labor raid at Kennedy Park


trans_button Santos Family Story
VIDEO: Tereza Pereira's ordeal with ICE agents

VIDEO: Danbury Peace Coalition Immigration Forum (April 2006)
featuring Mayor Boughton and Immigration attorney Philip Berns

VIDEO: 2007 Stop the Raids immigration forum at WCSU

2007: Community protest anti-immigration forum

A tribute to Hispanic Center Director and immigrant activist Maria Cinta Lowe

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2023 MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS

Results:
11.15.23 Recanvass return
(Head Moderator Return Format)

11.07.23: Election night returns
(Head Moderator Return Format)

11.07.23: Initial returns


ESPOSITO FINANCE REPORTS:
Oct 10 2022
Jan 10 2023
Apr 10 2023
Jul 10 2023
Oct 10 2023

ALVES FINANCE REPORTS:
Apr 10 2023
Jul 10 2023
Oct 10 2023

CAMPAIGN SLATE DATABASE
Dem/GOP slate/ballot position

VIDEO: DRTC convention
VIDEO: DDTC conveniton


2021 (ALVES/ESPOSITO)

TOWN COMMITTEES
(VID) DDTC nomination convention
(PDF) DDTC campaign slate flyer

(VID) DRTC nomination convention
(PDF) DRTC campaign slate flyer

FORUMS/DEBATES
(VID) 2021 Danbury City-Wide PTO educational forum

CAMPAIGN FINANCE
First quarter
Alves Apr 10th SEEC filing

Second quarter
Alves Jul 10th SEEC filing
Esposito Jul 10th SEEC filing

Third quarter
Alves Oct 12th SEEC report
Esposito Oct 12th SEEC report

CAMPAIGN MAILERS
Alves "Jan 6th" attack mailer 10.21.21
Esposito "you can't trust Alves" attack mailer 10.20.21
Alves mailer 10.20.21
Alves mailer 09.30.21
Esposito mailer 09.28.21
Alves mailer 09.27.21
Esposito mailer 09.27.21


PAST CAMPAIGN COVERAGE

2005 (BOUGHTON/ESPOSITO)
Danbury 2005 election results
Newstimes Dean Esposito profile (10.25.05)

2007 (BOUGHTON/ABRANTES)
Danbury 2007 election results
(VID) Helana Abrantes TV ad
(VID) BRT tax deferral presser
(VID) Helena Abrantes "Community Forum" interview

2009 (BOUGHTON/GONCALVES)
Danbury 2009 election results
(VID) 2009 Danbury City-Wide PTO educational forum
(VID) 2009 Danbury Chamber of Commerce mayoral debate
(VID) 2009 DDTC nomination convention

2011 (BOUGHTON/TABORSAK)
Danbury 2011 election results
(VID) Saadi/Nero campaign kickoff

2013 (BOUGHTON/NO DTC ENDORSED CANDIDATE/MCALLISTER)
Danbury 2013 election results
(VID) 2013 DDTC nominaiton convention

2015 (BOUGHTON UNCHALLENGED)
Danbury 2015 election results

2017 (BOUGHTON/ALMEIDA)
Danbury 2017 election results
(VID) Al Almeida concession speech
(VID) 2017 Danbury City-Wide PTO educational forum
(VID) Al Almeida nomination acceptance speech

2019 (BOUGHTON/SETARO)
Danbury 2019 election results
(VID) 2019 NewsTimes Editorial Board interview with Mark Boughton and Chris Setaro
(VID) 2019 Danbury City-Wide PTO educational forum
(VID) 2019 Danbury Chamber of Commerce mayoral debate
(VID) 2019 convention endorsement speeches from Mark Boughton and Chris Setaro